Holocaust survivor honored for saving Righteous Gentiles

Roman Kent recognized for his work helping gentiles who saved Jews during the Holocaust and now need a hand themselves.

Arutz Sheva Staff, 31/03/16 22:47

Sandy Cahn gives mezuzah to Roman Kent

Eli Mandelbaum

Limmud FSU, an organization for Russian-speaking Jews, on Thursday honored noted Holocaust survivor Roman Kent for dedicating his life to helping fellow survivors and those who rescued them.

Kent, now aged 86, is the president of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, which helps Righteous Gentiles who rescued Jews during the Holocaust and currently are in need of assistance themselves.

Limmud FSU Co-Chair Sandy Cahn met with Kent and presented him with a mezuzah to put on the door of his new Midtown Manhattan office.

In addition to his work with the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, Kent also is treasurer of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), which helps survivors and seeks claims on their behalf.

Born in Lodz, Poland in the 1920s, Kent was in the Lodz Ghetto before being sent to the Auschwitz, Mertzbachtal, Dornau and Flossenburg death camps. After the war, he went to the US in 1946 as a child under the Displaced Persons Act.

"Roman exemplifies heroism and compassion, as someone who has spent his life helping other Holocaust survivors and those few who risked their own lives to save Jews," said Cahn.

"His work deeply inspires us at Limmud FSU, as we engage Russian-speaking Jews with their heritage and their history – including the dark days of the Holocaust."

Limmud FSU's honoring of Kent comes ahead of its annual US conference, which is to be held April 1-3 in Parsippany, New Jersey. Around 1,000 Russian-speaking Jews from across America are to take part in the event, which is to include a special photo exhibition about former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, and a panel discussing the shortage of female political leaders worldwide.